One of Australia’s rising fashion talents has joined the world’s best young designers to showcase Australian Merino wool at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW).

Ben Pollitt, designer of Friedrich Gray, has been announced as the Australian Protégé at the Protégé collection showing in Sydney today. Project Protégé was created in Italy through the vision of Franca Sozzani, Editor of Vogue Italia; an idea that saw some of fashion’s most prominent figures identify and mentor promising, talented protégés over the months leading up to the launch of their collections in Europe. They are:

• Jean Pierre Braganza, selected by Karl Lagerfeld

• Kristian Aadnevik, selected by Donatella Versace

• Ioannis Cholidis, selected by Sir Paul Smith

• Julian Louie, selected by Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein

• Sandra Backlund, selected by Franca Sozzani, Editor Vogue Italia

Editor of Vogue Australia, Kirstie Clements, announced that Ben Pollitt would stand alongside the world’s best young designers as the Australian Protégé. Ben’s collection, made from Australian Merino wool jersey knits and wovens, was showcased as part of the Protégé collection at RAFW. Ben was also recently awarded the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival designer of the year presented by Woolmark.

Paolo Zegna, President of Ermenegildo Zegna, was a guest of honour at the event. Ermenegildo Zegna has been a key partner of Project Protégé since its launch in July 2007. Many of the high quality Merino wool woven fabrics used by the Protégés were woven at Zegna’s world class mills.

Mr Craig Welsh, AWI CEO explains, “Working with such stellar names in the global fashion industry reinforces the strong position Australian Merino wool holds as the fibre of choice for the luxury end of the global apparel industry. It cements Australian Merino wool’s position on the lucrative international fashion stage.

“While demonstrating the inherent luxury, quality and versatility that Merino wool offers, international events such as this offer a unique opportunity to see how one of Australia’s leading exports is used by the international fashion elite to appeal to the key apparel markets.”